This is TL;DR (Too Long, Didn’t Read) Tuesdays.  I summarize and discuss two articles — one from a blogger, and from one a “traditional news” source.  I also provide links to two other blog posts you should read on your own, with a goal to feature bloggers that have popped up on here before and/or that I read on my own.

This concept is inspired by my father, who sends everyone in the family articles links by email, by my older brother, who sends articles so long I never read them, and my wife, who became tired of me sending her articles, and has been telling me “TL;DR” for years.

I write these 1-4x/month. Click here to read all of them over time.

2 Things For You To Read:

#1: Dr. McFrugal discusses 10 principles that let him and his wife avoid frivolous spending, while still spending, in “Conscious Consumerism: How a Frugal Minimalist Justifies Buying Things.”

#2: Lisa at The Give and Get discusses The Huge Financial Privilege No One Talks About

2 Things I Read For You

#1

Source: Amy @ Life Zemplified

Title: That Time I Skipped School And Failed Honors English

Summary: Rather than give a speech in 10th grade English class, she skipped a ton of school and didn’t prepare, then refused to complete the assignment.  She took a failing grade that caused her to fail a class.  The steps back she took pushed her (with her mother’s push as well) to great heights later on in high school and beyond.

Conclusion: In 8th grade we had to deliver a speech in 8th grade English class.  At the time I had little public speaking skills or confidence.  I stood up to deliver the Gettysburg Address, spoke a few words, and my mind went blank.  I stood there — then I sat down.  Literally, I just went and sat down and refused to get back up.  For some reason the teacher didn’t fail me on that assignment — I was grateful, because the reaction from my parents would have been… something.

That was also my first full year taking drama/theatre class at school — I ended up doing theatre all the way through high school, and also did  speech and other activities that have helped.  I am not only able to prepare a talk and deliver it well, I can speak extemporaneously and have a great time doing it (all the improv scenes in drama helped).  I don’t toot my own horn often, but I think I’ve become a skilled public speaker, which tends to surprise a lot of people, as in small group settings I usually don’t show that side of me.

Also, if you’re interested in hiring Rogue Dad MD to come speak at your conference, just contact me and we’ll see if we can work something out!

Read This Also: Simplifying Brought Us Greater Health, Finances & Fun

#2

Source: The Washington Post

Title: Utah’s ‘free-range parenting’ law said to be first in the nation

Summary: A woman let her 9 y/o take the subway home himself in NYC.  He made it home and “free range parenting” was born (as a term).  Now, Utah is codifying a law stating that children can ““walk, run or bike to and from school, travel to commercial or recreational facilities, play outside and remain at home unattended.”  Other states, such as Arkansas, debated a similar law but did not pass it.

Conclusion: Moment to moment, every parent is constantly struggling with how much oversight vs. freedom to allow their children.  Some children will actually let you regulate it a little, and some just bust through any barriers.  Rogue One, age 9, chafes at our oversight but lets us place limits, with some grumbling.  Rogue Two, age 4, literally runs off to do whatever the hell he wants and I have a neighbor drive me around the neighborhood to find him.  Rogue One off on his own in the neighborhood isn’t scary, but it’s not worry-free.  We’re not going to let him roam around downtown anytime soon, but I’m sure Rogue Two will be down there on his own in a few weeks, catching a baseball game after playing hooky from pre-school.  When he’s 9, he may very well be ready to take the metro bus home by himself.

Share your thoughts in the comment section below, and share these posts as well!